United States

Key facts

• Region: North America — Sovereign states
• Capital: Washington, D.C.
• Currency: US dollar (USD)
• Languages: English (de facto; no official federal language)
• Main airport: JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport, serving New York City
• Best time to visit: Varies enormously by region: April to June and September to October suit most of the country; the Southwest and Florida are best in winter

Overview

The United States offers an unusually wide range of travel within one country, from Arctic and volcanic Alaska and Hawaii to the desert canyon country of the Southwest, the Rocky Mountains, and dense, culturally distinct cities on both coasts. Its national park system is among the largest and best organised in the world. Internal flights are frequent and relatively cheap, so a single trip can combine very different regions.

Airports

The busiest international gateways are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles International (LAX), New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami International (MIA). San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) serve the West Coast. These hubs are usually the fastest route to national parks and regions far from the coasts.

Main cities

New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco are the most common first stops and each justifies several days. New Orleans stands out for music and food. Washington, D.C. is built around its monuments and museums. Smaller centres such as Charleston, Savannah and Santa Fe reward travellers who prefer history and regional culture over size.

Places to go

The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite are the best-known national parks, with Zion, Bryce Canyon and Glacier among the most scenic. Great Smoky Mountains and Acadia cover the eastern mountains and coast. The Everglades in Florida and the redwood forests of California are distinct ecosystems worth their own trips. Hawaii Volcanoes on the Big Island and Denali in Alaska show the extremes of the country. Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway are classic drives.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into United States, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked